WITH A TRIAL DATE FAST APPROACHING, TWO BATTLING MOVIE MOGULS MANEUVER MANFULLY FOR POSITION

What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? They settle, of course. At least, that seems to be the disappointing conclusion in the breathlessly awaited Katzenberg v. Disney case, which was scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 18.

The dispute pits Jeffrey Katzenberg, the diminutive and determined former chairman of the Walt Disney Co. studio, against Michael Eisner, the towering and truculent chief executive and chairman of the whole Disney shebang. The fight stems from Katzenberg's claim that Disney promised him 2% of the profit from the film and other ventures he headed during his 10 years at...